In an era where digital access to information is more crucial than ever, the IGS Library’s California Local Government Documents Collection (LoCALDig) project plays a vital role in making previously unavailable government information accessible. While the internet has enabled the creation of e-government, which provides centralized online access to many government resources, many collections remain incomplete. Historical publications are often missing from digital archives, and web content frequently changes or disappears altogether.
Nick Norman, one of LoCALDig’s Internet Archive (IA) technicians and scribes, is deeply passionate about ensuring the preservation of such publications. His dedication to digitizing project materials reflects a firm commitment to making inaccessible information available to the public. For Nick, this work is more than just a job—it’s a way to change the world.
As he stated in his October 2024 essay, Scanning the Past to Empower the Future: A Journey in Responsible Digital Archiving:
“When information remains inaccessible, it’s as if it never existed — hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered. The documents and publications we uncover contain knowledge and insights that aren’t readily available to us. They also offer clues about our past, helping us understand how we’ve arrived at our present situation. And perhaps most significantly, they reveal how we might change the course of our future.”
Nick puts his philosophy into action by performing deft physical digitization for LoCALDig. Using high-resolution cameras and archival workstations, he ensures that historical documents are preserved with precision. Each digital document is intended to capture, as closely as possible, the original physical item. While the IA digitization staff digitize hundreds of documents every week, the process can be complex and a number of issues arise.
I sat down with Nick to discuss the process of digitization. Nick says maps, in particular, pose unique challenges:
“They come in a variety of sizes, often folded away for decades, and were never designed for digital access. Capturing them requires careful handling to avoid damage while ensuring they align with the reading experience of the digitized books they accompany.”
Lighting also presents a significant challenge. As Nick notes:
“It must be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, as a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when digitizing a wide range of materials.”
To address these issues, Nick collaborates with IA digitization staff and the IGSL team to develop effective and repeatable strategies that balance precision and efficiency. The result is a highly usable online collection that provides clear images, readable text, and valuable data for researchers and the public alike.
Nick’s dedication to making knowledge accessible to everyone has not gone unnoticed. In recognition of his contributions, he was honored with the 2024 Best Use of Technology, Anthem Award for his efforts in setting new industry standards for responsible digital archiving.
As the Anthem Awards committee highlighted, Nick’s work advances issues related to responsible technology and digital preservation, making a significant impact in the field.
Congratulations to Nick Norman for this well-deserved recognition! His work continues to bridge the gap between historical knowledge and digital access, ensuring that valuable government documents remain available for future generations.
Read more about this remarkable achievement on the Internet Archive Blog: Congratulations to Nick Norman. The 4th Annual Anthem Award Winners were announced on November 19, 2024.